Prius Prime Review: Why the Plug-In Hybrid May Be the Answer
We went to France to watch the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Along the way, we experienced 1,200 miles in the new Prius Prime plug-in hybrid.
The mission was simple. We were on the way to Le Mans to watch Toyota’s Hybrid Gazoo Hypercars take on Ferrari and the rest in the 24 Hour, so we decided to take the long way there and tour France. What better way to sample plug-in hybrid motoring and the new Prius Prime firsthand?
The automotive landscape is changing faster than I can type this story out. Electric Vehicles were supposed to be the future. But nobody took market sentiment into account. So, despite the billions spent to bring EVs out of the cupboard, people just don’t seem to want them after all. Which means it’s back to the drawing board.
Designed as a stopgap, plug-in hybrids are now surging as the EV falters. Intended to give you a short-range EV to conclude your chores without using any of the gas in the tank throughout your week, used correctly, a plug-in does the same job as an EV in the urban realm.
Living With a Plug-In Hybrid
But come the weekend or holiday, you’re not limited. The gas engine simply takes over and you just drive on. But surely that road is littered with obstacles? Our mission was to learn what it’s like to live with a Prius Prime plug-in hybrid, to discover the advantages, as much as to find out the drawbacks of plug-in hybrid motoring on the open road. Warts and all.
Toyota hybrids are nothing new, and Prius was the pioneer. Five million Prius have cut carbon emissions by 82 million tons since 1997. Toyota and Lexus now make hybrids across all segments to satisfy a far broader customer base, and Prius had reached a turning point. So, Toyota started reinvented it to keep it relevant for the next 25 years.
In Europe, the Prius is exclusively available as a plug-in hybrid. In the U.S., we call this model the Prius Prime. Last updated for the 2023 model year, the new Prime pairs a 145 HP 2.0L 4-cylinder gas engine with a 155 HP EV motor to drive the front axle via a CVT transmission. Its combined 220 HP is a very handy 100 HP up on the previous model.
Cooler Prius is Quicker, and Faster than Before
Toyota promises captivating driver performance, claiming 6.6 seconds to 60 mph as 58 miles of battery-only travel. Despite being the quickest Prius yet, the larger engine also matches the old 1.8L on fuel efficiency. Its 13.6 kWh battery sits under the rear seat to boost range by 50%. That’s among the best of any PHEV.
The Prius Prime’s improved efficiency is in part courtesy of much-improved battery energy density. It also has a solar roof to generate enough energy for 777 miles of EV driving a year. The roof furthermore charges the battery while the car is parked, and powers the climate control and other systems.
Our 10-day, 1,200-mile lap around France taught us as much about Prius, plug-in motoring, and even the EV first world, as it did about France. But let’s start with the car.
It Certainly Looks the Part
It certainly looks the part. That hammerhead front light bar had us using Google Translate a few times as onlookers gawked. The new Prius and Prius Prime retain a creased wedge shape and rearward roof peak. Smart and purposeful face-polished 19-inch wheels contribute to a coupé-inspired stance.
Shorter, wider, and lower than before, it rides on a 2-inch longer wheelbase in a stiffer, quieter, and more stable TNGA platform. The lower floor enhances cabin space and brings a dynamically improved low center of gravity.
That certainly comes through on the road. Rapid enough to feel sporty, the Prius Prime is a little let down by a subtly wooden steering feel and a rather dull engine sound. Our route was by no means kind to plug-in motoring, however.
Backroads and Traffic > Freeway Cruising
We drove far more backroads where we could and were rewarded with great fuel consumption — close to 60 mpg at slower speeds and in stop-and-go traffic — to match the many magic views en route. Comfortable and easy on the road, the Prius Prime is a pleasure to drive. Still, a plug-in hybrid is a bit of a fish out of water on the longer road and we soon learned a few crucial lessons about keeping it charged.
The first was to not bother. While 130-plus kilowatt-hour EV charging is all the rage in Europe, this car has a completely different plug and prefers a 40 kW-hour charge. Which takes far longer. And it’s often done on a separate, older charging station at the end of the charger row. Or away from them.
Then it took us three attempts to get it to charge before we realized that the car was set to a cheaper electricity nighttime charging schedule. With that off, it powered up, but way too slowly.
Does the Prius Prime Need to Charge Faster?
At one stop, a fellow plugged his almost flat Tesla into a fast charger alongside and added 80% charge to it in the time it took Prius to add 30% to a far smaller battery. Note to Toyota – make your plug-ins compatible with fast chargers!
We soon discovered that the best way to run Prius Prime on the open road was to self-charge to about 60%. Which takes over an hour to achieve on the freeway. Then simply select Hybrid mode, which will maintain that charge, and drive it as a regular hybrid wherever plausible.
Hybrid mode even works as an EV in the city, so all those advantages are retained. However, the car defaults to EV mode every time you start it, which can catch you with your pants down and a depleted battery when you’re not paying attention. I’d prefer if it defaulted to Hybrid mode and then let me choose when I want it to be an EV.
An Easy 300 Miles Prius Prime’s 9-Gallon Tank
At the end of the day, we managed well over 300 miles every time on the 9-gallon tank. And we had the advantage of EV mode when we needed it, to cruise all around town. And get deep into limited city centers where gas cars have long been banned.
The Prius Prime’s completely revamped cockpit focuses on quality and driver comfort. The 7-inch digital display is placed above the steering and in your line of sight to minimize driver distraction. The central infotainment screen is nicked from the Corolla.
Packed with every conceivable system, among them may be a bit overbearing to some of us. And even more complex to switch off via the steering buttons and dash display. Another challenge was while it was quite simple to switch the car language from French to English, we simply could not get the navigation voice to speak English! (But, hey, when in France, amIright?)
We Enjoyed a Stunning Mission with our Prius
Overall, we enjoyed a stunning mission with our Prius Prime and came away far bigger fans of plug-in motoring than we were before. Look, there certainly are areas where it can greatly improve. One would be to make it compatible with fast chargers. Another would be to retain the mode you left it in when you start again. And a few other little aspects.
But as a green motoring solution, all our little experiment did, was to prove why the world appears to now be turning en masse to the plug-in hybrid. Sure, it’s only half an EV. But then, is the gas other half what people find so reassuring? It’s there when you need it, or when want it. And it’s probably the future. Now to watch the plug-in hybrid develop!
Photos: Lupini
